The Headmaster Alpha's Mate
The Headmaster Alpha’s Mate Chapter 44

Lacey stood with a distraught Cheryl, tears streaming down her face. Years of pain and anguish caused not only by her abusive husband but also because of the rejection of her mate washed through her. One minute she was filled with joy, the next anger bubbled up inside her as she thought of how Oli had left her to suffer. He had been free from his pack, yet made no attempt to help her and Nicki get out of the dire situation they were in.

As Lacey watched on, she decided it would be easier to open her mind link to Zander, Robin and Josh, so she could narrate the conversation as it happened, to ensure not even the smallest detail was missed. One tiny slip up from Oli could give them the answers they were looking for, and the safety of the pack, and her friends depended on her getting everything right.

Cheryl looked into Oli’s eyes, it was so difficult not just to demand to be able to run into the cell and hold him to her, but with him being held behind pure silver bars, and the fact that she had lived under the tyranny of a man before, she burried her urges deep down, she wanted answers, and she needed the truth.

“Why Oli, why leave me in that place when you knew how much I was suffering?” Cheryl asked,

“Because you were married, you had a child. At first I thought you were happy, but then I knew you were not. I wanted so desperately to get you out, but I have nothing, no pack, nothing I could offer you. I am a marked man, if my old Alpha ever replaces me again, he will not hesitate to slaughter me, and if I had got you out of that situation, I could have put you in a worse one, where you and your daughter faced not just abuse but death. I am sorry, I took the lesser of two evils option.” Oli said, his eyes never leaving Cheryl’s.

“But where have you been? You say you have nothing, yet you look perfectly clean. If you had been living in the forest as a wolf you would be dirty.” Cheryl asked, determined to have every last question answered.

“I rent a small flat in the City. I have been living as a human. I work as a delivery driver, it doesn’t pay a lot, but it is enough for just me.” Oli said, hanging his head as if he was ashamed.

Cheryl tilted her head, and wiped away a tear.

“So if you live in the city you are a long way from home, you said you were on a run when your wolf entered the pack lands, again Oli, that is not adding up to me.” Cheryl sighed in frustration, she desperately wanted to trust him, but she needed the truth first.

“It is true. Cheryl, but every full moon I come to the highlands to let my wolf run free. I ended up here, drawn by your presence. I moved from England to Scotland when I left my pack, to avoid running into anyone from Ullswater. I never intended to mess up your life, which is why I stayed away, but Boyd had other ideas, he just wants his mate, and to hell with the consequences.” Oli sighed sadly.

“Which City?” Cheryl asked. She desperately wanted to trust him, but she needed the truth.

“Stirling.”

“Cheryl, I never stopped loving you. I am sorry, please my darling, please forgive me.” Oli pleaded.

Cheryl bowed her head, she really wanted to forgive him, to welcome him with open arms, but her past dictated she needed to be sure, she wanted Zander to confirm everything was correct before she could truly forgive and forget.

“Oli, I am sorry, but fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I refuse to be fooled by a man again, even you. So as much as I want to just forgive you, I don’t think I can.” Cheryl wiped another tear that broke free.

“So that is it then? the end of us.” Oli asked, his own eyes stinging with tears.

“I don’t know, until your story can be confirmed, I will not blindly trust you.” Cheryl sighed, then looked at Lacey.

“Can we go now please?” she asked.

Lacey nodded her head, and placed a comforting arm around Cheryl’s waist, as they turned to leave the dungeons.

“Cheryl, just accept the rejection. If you do not trust me, then set me and you free.” Oli shouted after her.

Cheryl froze slightly, and looked up at Lacey, then turned on her heel.

“So that is what you are really here for, for me to set you free!” Cheryl shook her head, letting out a humourless laugh. She had been manipulated many times before, and it felt just like she felt now.

“No, that is not what I meant, I just want you to be happy!” Oli cried out.

“No, that is NOT what you meant at all, you want me to accept the rejection, so you don’t have to live in torment. There were other packs you could have gone to, packs that accept human mates, like this one. But you chose to leave me in a living hell, then come here out of the blue. I will not accept your rejection, you can live with the pain.” Cheryl shouted out in anger.

Oli let out a growl, then glaring at Cheryl and Lacey shouted back at them.

“Enjoy your pack run!” His voice laced with contempt.

“I only wanted your acceptance, so that when they kill you, I do not feel it!”

Zander hissed, then immediately linked with the whole pack.

“The pack run is cancelled, all warriors to the boarders, be prepared, we are coming under attack.”

“Chloe, grab Nicki, Cheryl will meet you there, Josh, you go with them, gather as many pups as you can, and head to the safe room. Josh will show you where it is..Once they are safe, meet me on the field.” Zander ordered.

“What is happening?” Chloe asked, concern flooding through her.

“I think the rogue was sent here to cause a distraction, when Cheryl would not immediately trust him, he wanted her to accept the rejection. Your mother is shrewd Nicki, she refused, and he told her to enjoy the pack run, then said he only wanted her to accept the rejection so he did not feel pain when they killed her.” Zander answered, then placed a soft k**s on Chloe’s lips, as he left the office with Robin.

Josh kept hold of Nicki’s hand, as she wept for her poor mother, he led them to a secret door, hidden behind a bookshelf.

“Chloe, come on”, Josh encouraged her.

“Not yet, get Nicki to safety, I need to get the pups.” Chloe stated before turning around and running out of the office. Pups and younger teenagers were all running, and Chloe gathered them towards her.

“Listen to me, so do not panic. I want you all to follow me, we will look after you.” Chloe shouted at them.

Gathering as many as she could, along with the omega females, Chloe walked back into the office, and led them all through the secret doorway. The long concrete corridor split into three, all of them led to a large metal door that was open. Chloe made sure everyone was inside before Josh kissed Nicki as she held onto a sobbing Cheryl and then nodded at her.

“Do not open this door for anyone other than Zander, myself or Robin.” Josh informed them, then closed the door, before heading back into Zander’s office and shutting the secret door.

Zander and Robin walked into the large garden, their eyes scanning the trees for movement. Lacey joined them.

“I have placed four warriors in the prison, to make sure he does not escape,” Lacey stated.

“Good, that was definitely a threat, but the question is, who, Ullswater? Or has he teamed up with the rouges?” Zander growled out.

Suddenly, howls erupted from beyond the trees, and Zander took a breath.

“Guess we are about to replace out.” Josh growled, desperately keeping Jerry under control. Now was not the time to shift, they needed to wait, showing dominance even in their human bodies, before shifting and wiping out the attackers.

“ROGUES” Terrance shouted through the mind link.

Zander looked between Josh and Robin and nodded.

“Let’s squash this s**t! That bastard was a decoy, sent to distract us. We will show those mangy mutts they are messing with the wrong packs.”

All three of them ran towards where the fighting had started, Lacey following close behind. As they reached the boarders they saw a line of around fifty rouges, the putrid stench filled the air around them.

Fifty of them, that is a lot for rouges this is organised.

Josh linked with Zander, he only responded with a small nod of the head.

The rouges suddenly began to charge, snarling, saliva dripping from their mouths.

Chloe looked around the safe room, there were bunk beds and cots for babies along one side of the room, large comfortable sofas were placed in a large square in the centre of the room on top of a dark blue rug that sat on top of the concrete floor. A large TV hung on the wall, beneath it was a old DVD player, with three long rows of films and children’s programs. To the other side was a large stainless steel kitchen, a double oven, and a hob, the cupboards packed full of tins of food. The two American style fridges were filled with all kinds of fresh food, the freezers packed with everything from pizzas, to frozen packs of meat.

“Let’s get the pups settled with a film, and some supper before we put them to bed” Chloe ordered.

“I am so sorry Luna, it is my fault.” Cheryl softly wept.

“It is Chloe, and no Cheryl, it is not your fault, it is that bastard’s fault. You asked all the right questions. If you had not riled him up, then we would not have received the early warning. Now help me settle the children with parents who are busy fighting for our pack.”

“Luna, how can I help?” Caroline walked towards Chloe.

“Let’s get the pups settled and into bed. I do not want them to feel frightened.”

“Yes Luna.” Caroline nodded.

“Caroline it is …” Chloe began to speak.

“No Luna, we are under attack, you are our leader, it is not Chloe tonight, it is Luna.” Caroline smiled and went to help Cheryl with the little ones.

“Chloe, A few of us can fight!” Ellie stated.

“Yes, I know you can, but we must stay here. It is our job to protect those who cannot protect themselves.” Chloe smiled down at the 15-year-old, who was chomping at the bit to go fight with the adults.

Amy sat in the corner, her eyes wide with fear, she had come from a pack that was weak, and this whole situation was terrifying for her.

Nicki walked over to Amy. She was fearful herself, but she trusted her mate, and sat beside the wide-eyed girl.

“It is going to be fine, you are in a really strong pack now Amy, try not to worry.” Nicki smiled at the girl.

With the pups all settled watching cartoons, Chloe walked over to Nicki.

“If only we knew what the hell was happening.” Chloe sighed, trying not to give in to the fear she felt for her mate, her friends and her pack.

“Where the hell is Ethan?” Nicki cried out, looking around the room.

“Luna’s he refused to come down, saying he would be needed to heal our wolves in the battle.” Elli shouted.

Chloe closed her eyes, as she was filled with concern for her friend.